Denis, don't get lured into the megapixel selling trick. What is important is the size of the sensor, where all these pixels have to form a nic picture. Rather ask for a larger size sensor with less mp than for a small once with zillions mp.

Denis, you have to go and try to see if you and it are made for each other. My mistake I did not, just relied on reviews as I was in a hurry. Take your own SDHC card in, some long shots outside the shop, take them home and see. If the shop is worth its salt they will be happy for you to try one or two possibles.

I've got the Sony HX90V ..the more expensive version. Most disappointed with the shots. Bought it to fit in my pocket with 30x zoom! for a cruise to Russia but results are poor unless you are blessed with very good light. OK for everyday use with minimum zooming.Had to "Photoshop" the results. Fiddly to use. Fingers keep hitting wrong buttons and viewfinder is a fiddle. Need to raise and then pull out the lens. Lots of gizmos but are they worth it when shots are mediocre.Do you need camera to be small or are you tempted by the zoom? $=£ in UK as a guide ..we are "cheated"Your choice of $399 is £399 here. What about bridge camera? In your price range possible example Lumix fz330 with its Post Focus Simulation.https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/cameras-camcorders/lumix-digital-cameras/bridge-cameras/dmc-fz330.html

Hi, Chas! Thanks for an input - wish I could see examples of best/worst shots & them from a zoomin then. Also, I did read some reviews say that these cameras is "not the Sony it used to be".I need a compact camera which I can carry in my pants' pocket like a smartphone. It must have high zoom cause with my current one with 5x optical zoom 10mpx I can only do nice shots of ships that are within 50-200m from me & in a good light. Taking pics in my own room is almost pointless with it - even in a good light all comes out grainy & worse than if via current good smartphone. I was quite satisfied with how pics come out via Huawei P20 Pro, especially on a zoom, but buying that just cause of it's camera is a no.None of the shops in my city had either of Sony DSC HX80 / Canon SX740HS / Nikon CoolPix A900 I thought I could try in my hands - all stores had very simple & very complex & big cameras.Honestly, I bought my current camera https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyt300 back then just cause it had a very cool design & well... cause I needed a camera. Here's an example of a decent shot by it in a good light on a 5x zoom - I was like 100m away from the object. I'm very picky to quality when viewed in full size & here all details can be clearly seen: https://i.imgur.com/8OdoIaq.jpg The camera I want should produce much better than this & in a wide range of conditions.